At a time of political and religious turmoil, early Friends as a people
were gathered, guided and ordered by God. From their experience of the
immediacy of the presence of Christ sprang the form of worship and the
way of life which became the distinctive testimonies of Friends, and
which were upheld with courage in the face of great persecution. From
the need to make provision for those suffering and the need to set boundaries
to individual behaviour, came the insights into 'Gospel Order' and the
setting up of meetings for church affairs which were also meetings for
discipline**.

Over time this resulted in a small document called "Advices
and Queries":
a concise expression of Quaker faith and practice. Though a small
booklet, it is intended for use in meetings, for private devotion and
reflection, as a challenge and inspiration to Friends in their personal
lives and in their life as a religious community. It comes with a caveat
that is unusual for many religious communities:

Dearly beloved Friends, these things we do not lay upon you as a rule
or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of Light which is
pure and holy, may be guided; and so in the Light walking and abiding,
these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter, for the letter
killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.